Matthew Bowyer reported to FCI Lompoc in Southern California last fall, serving time for his role in a money laundering scheme linked to Resorts World Las Vegas. Bowyer had pleaded guilty to laundering millions, tying him to Shohei Ohtani's former interpreter. In a related case, professional poker player Damien Leforbes was set for sentencing but received a delay that pushed his hearing to December 10, 2023.
During a brief court appearance on October 15, U.S. District Judge Monica Ramirez Almadani postponed Leforbes' sentencing by nearly two months. Before the postponement, Leforbes made a deal with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, which included a recommendation for probation instead of prison time.
Leforbes, who was a baseball player at UNLV, has reportedly lost over $10 million at Resorts World Las Vegas in a 16-month timeframe, as stated in a complaint from 2025 filed by Nevada regulators. In August 2024, he pleaded guilty to money laundering and conducting an illegal gambling business. The agreement proposed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry Quinn suggested a four-month home confinement as part of the probation. However, Judge Almadani needs to review specific terms before she can finalize any probationary measures.
After the postponement, a representative from the U.S. Attorneys Office confirmed Leforbes' new sentencing date but did not provide further details on the reason for the delay.
Bowyer and Leforbes were both mentioned in the 2025 complaint from the Nevada Gaming Control Board, but they appeared to be operating separate gambling schemes. As part of a settlement with the NGCB, Resorts World agreed to pay $10.5 million in fines concerning violations of anti-money laundering regulations, although the casino did not admit to any wrongdoing. This settlement received approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission in March 2025.
Court documents indicated that over 80 visits to RWLV cost Bowyer approximately $7.9 million, during which the casino provided him with luxury accommodations and promotional perks. In contrast, Leforbes allegedly wagered at least $148 million, resulting in net losses exceeding $12 million over an 11-month period.
Judge John Holcomb sentenced Bowyer to about 12 months in prison in August 2025. Upon his sentencing, Bowyer expressed remorse and pledged to inspire others affected by gambling. Following his release, he served seven months in FCI Lompoc before transferring to a halfway house in March due to good behavior.
During Leforbes' recent hearing at the Ronald Reagan Federal Building, attorneys detailed Bowyer’s case in their pre-sentencing memo, indicating that Leforbes’ gambling operation appeared smaller in scale. While Bowyer managed a large betting enterprise with over 700 clients, the specifics of Leforbes’ operations haven’t been disclosed. Reports also suggest that Leforbes was frequently entertained by RWLV, with some sources characterizing him as someone who enjoyed gambling heavily.
On October 1, Almadani approved an order for Leforbes to pay over $25,000 to the U.S. Treasury toward his 2025 federal tax obligations. During the October 15 hearing, she instructed the involved parties to outline the defendant’s aggravated role adjustment. Additionally, a U.S. Pretrial & Probation Officer was directed to provide a report that would inform potential probation terms before the end of November.
In April, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo appointed Richard Schonfeld, Leforbes' attorney, to the Nevada Gaming Commission, filling the position previously held by Rosa Solis-Rainey. The NGCB has imposed around $34 million in fines against Las Vegas Strip casinos due to anti-money laundering violations tied to the broader investigations involving Bowyer. The most recent fine was imposed on The Venetian in August for $7.2 million, with Schonfeld recusing himself from discussions due to prior representation of an individual involved in related matters.
Leforbes has seen his sentencing postponed at least five times since January 2025. Schonfeld did not comment on requests for additional insights into the case.
